Consider the scenario of having $1.5 million for nearly ten years without even knowing it…
This exact situation happened to Loren Krytzer, whose life transformed dramatically in just 77 seconds after viewing an episode of PBS’ Antiques Roadshow.
The resident of California was getting by on disability payments before making an incredible discovery.
In 2007, Loren was involved in a severe car accident which led to the amputation of his leg.
Struggling financially, he lived in a friend’s small shack in Leona Valley, surviving on $200 each month.
Little did he know that a mere TV show viewing would alter the course of his life.
On that day, Loren watched Antiques Roadshow as a man presented a blanket similar to one owned by his family.
The show’s experts informed the man that his 1800s Navajo blanket might fetch up to half a million dollars.
Loren’s own blanket, a family heirloom from his grandmother, had been tucked away in a closet for several years.
“I never thought mine would be worth anything close to that,” Loren explained to John Moran Auctioneers. “I thought it might be worth $10,000 or $15,000 or something.”
However, just six months later, Loren’s antique blanket turned him into a millionaire.
Initially, some auction houses turned him away, but the episode of Antiques Roadshow was still vivid in his mind, and Loren persevered.
At an open appraisal event at John Moran Auctioneers, the blanket was identified as one of the rarest and finest Navajo chief blankets.
Prior to the auction, Loren hoped to earn enough to repair his car and purchase a home for his family.
In just seventy-seven seconds of bidding, the blanket was sold for an astounding $1.5 million, surpassing the previous record of $522,500 for a comparable blanket.
Loren utilized the windfall to improve his situation. He took his family on a vacation to Mexico, bought a new car, and purchased two homes, one valued at $250,000. He also invested the remaining funds in stocks and shares.
However, acquiring such a substantial amount of money came with its challenges. Loren lost his disability benefits and received a significant tax bill, along with unexpected contact from distant relatives.
As reported by NY Post, Loren shared: “I had people calling me and bugging me… People you haven’t seen in years – family members that don’t talk to you. You get some money, and they’re like, ‘Where’s mine?’”